I will be honest with you, I expected 2022 to be easier. I was expecting vaccinations to have held COVID at bay; I was expecting even greater normality in terms of travel and presence, and I was expecting a Seminary community ready to focus on the hard work of formation for the sake of the […]
Today, Virginia Theological Seminary honors the memory of the Most Rev. Desmond Tutu D.D. '98 (H).
Life is puzzling. Here we all are – persons with the remarkable gift of consciousness who are able to laugh and love – living in this vast cosmos. The question at the heart of faith is this: why does all this exist? The Christian claim is that this universe is a result of intention and […]
Today I wish to address the staff. I want to start by expressing my gratitude for everything you do. While students come and go, you are the people who stay and keep everything going. You are the ones who make your way to the campus every day; you are the ones who take care of […]
Strangely a sign of institutional health is the annual report on giving. The 2020-2021 (an entire COVID year) annual report is called “Impact.” It runs to forty pages. It documents both annual fund giving and capital campaign gifts. The result is a report that really captures the deep affection in which the Seminary is held. […]
If you make your way to Bicentennial Hall, then you will find, nestled around the Assyrian Reliefs, a delightful exhibit honoring the life, witness, and impact of the world’s most famous saint – St. Nicholas. St. Nicholas is the saint from Patara (now southern Turkey) from the third century. He took everything he had and […]
Last Monday, the faculty had a day-long faculty meeting. It was rich in conversation and deliberation. Topics as far-ranging as the ATS accreditation visit, to requests for students to transfer from the M.A. to the M.Div. program, were considered. The day culminated in singing Christmas carols (and yes, Dr. Farwell and Dr. Strout did agree, […]
One of the biggest impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic has been financial: many families have lost their income, jobs, and homes. Millions of Americans have fallen on hard times. Some who had little to begin with now have even less, and are struggling every day just to make it through until tomorrow. They wonder how […]
Last night, Immanuel Chapel was a space of sublime Anglican liturgy and a moving celebration of ministry. We gathered for the Dean’s Cross service. It was exceptional. The music was glorious; the readings were read well; and the awards were a recognition of human lives lived fully. Advent Lessons and Carols are a distinctly Anglican […]
This is the final trip on behalf of the Seminary for 2021. Last night, there was a lovely gathering of alums and friends of the Seminary. Earlier in the day, there were meetings with the Rt. Rev. Robert Wright ’98, bishop of Atlanta, and with Mr. Russ Hardin of the Lettie Pate Evans Foundation. Much […]